Ed Smalley received the bronze medal for his father's completed mission during the Normandy invasion during World War II.

Smalley's father, also named Edward, was killed during that Normandy mission.

Smalley, a Springfield resident who was born and raised in Windsor, said he reached out to congressman Richard Neal to replace his purple heart medal and was surprised to learn he would receive the bronze star, as well.

"I'm finally getting recognition for my dad. And not only him, but the 10,000 other G.I.'s that died that day," Smalley said. "It's really the family members. This was a pretty modest generation, so it's the family members that pursue these acknowledgements and correctly so."

Smalley plans to take a trip to France this year to visit his father's grave and learn more about his family's history.

An increased police presence is expected at the DuPont Middle School in Chicopee on Monday after a threat to the school was made on social media. That threat spread like wildfire online before police started an investigation, eventually arresting an 12-year-old former female student on Sunday night.

An increased police presence is expected at the DuPont Middle School in Chicopee on Monday after a threat to the school was made on social media. That threat spread like wildfire online before police started an investigation, eventually arresting an 12-year-old former female student on Sunday night.